After spending the majority of his time behind a computer screen, editing code, Ian Ruhter had enough. He wanted to make photographs, but in a very old-fashioned way. Using 19th century literature as a guide, Ruhter began making his own film with USP collodion, silver nitrates, iodides and bromides. This special film — and the special camera needed to shoot it — led Ruhter to create one-of-a-kind photographic prints called ambrotypes and tintypes.

Ruhter is exhibiting his work in a show called "Perfect Imperfections" in Menlo Park, with an artist reception on Feb. 1.